mileage
mileage — noun
1. the total number of miles a vehicle has driven, either over its full lifetime or
the total number of miles a vehicle has driven, either over its full lifetime or within a specific period such as a day or a week.
Devika bought a car with low mileage because the previous owner rarely drove it.
collocation: low mileage / high mileage
The rental company charges extra if you go over the daily mileage limit.
Lukas checked the mileage on the dashboard before taking the van on the long trip.
A high-mileage truck often needs more repairs than one that has been driven less.
- distance
more general term; mileage is distance specifically in miles
- mileage reading
the specific number shown on the odometer
用法筆記
Frequently used in the phrases 'high mileage' and 'low mileage' to describe a used vehicle's condition — lower mileage generally means less wear on the engine and parts.
常見錯誤
2. a measure of how far a car or truck goes on a fixed amount of fuel — higher figu
a measure of how far a car or truck goes on a fixed amount of fuel — higher figures mean the vehicle uses less energy per mile.
Minho bought a hybrid car for its excellent gas mileage in the city.
collocation: good/better/great mileage
The advertisement claims the new model has excellent mileage of sixty miles per gallon.
Poor mileage from an old engine often means more trips to the petrol station.
Lakshmi tracks her car's mileage to see if the new tyres saved fuel.
- fuel economy
more formal term; preferred in technical writing
- gas mileage
common in American English, refers specifically to petrol vehicles
- fuel consumption
measures fuel used per distance (inverse of mileage)
用法筆記
In American English, 'gas mileage' is the everyday term. In British English, 'fuel consumption' (measured in litres per 100 km or miles per gallon) is more common, though 'mileage' is also understood.
常見錯誤
3. money paid to a person for each mile they travel while doing their job, usually
money paid to a person for each mile they travel while doing their job, usually as compensation for using their own car.
The charity covers mileage for volunteers who drive elderly patients to the hospital.
Camila claimed mileage for the two hundred miles she drove to meet clients.
collocation: mileage claim / mileage rate
Many employers pay a standard mileage rate set by the tax authority each year.
Ryan kept every petrol receipt so he could prove his mileage to the finance team.
- travel allowance
broader term that may cover other travel costs, not just mileage
- mileage allowance
the specific per-mile portion of a travel allowance
- per diem
a daily allowance that may or may not include mileage
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in work-related contexts. The 'mileage rate' is usually set by a government agency or the employer, not negotiated individually.
4. the amount of practical benefit, enjoyment, or continued useful life that you ob
the amount of practical benefit, enjoyment, or continued useful life that you obtain from something, often extending its value beyond what was expected.
Rania got great mileage out of her hiking boots — they lasted six years on trails.
phrase: get a lot of mileage out of something
The politician got political mileage from the law by mentioning it at every rally.
Sofie plans to squeeze more mileage from her sofa by re-covering it with fresh fabric.
A good plot twist gives a film extra mileage and keeps people talking for weeks.
- waste
the opposite of obtaining value from something
文法句型
get (a lot of) mileage out of something
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'get (a lot of / some / more) mileage out of something' or 'squeeze mileage from something'. The object is typically a possession, idea, or situation — not a person.